Winning is the strategy
By: Mike Peters
DUNZ: 17/08/2024
The recent savage attacks by the government on the rights of all disabled people have turned the clock back 50 years.
We have the majority of public support, but to take advantage of that support, we have to organise a determined national campaign for the human rights of the disabled. No one else will do this. We have to save ourselves.
Winning
The aim is to win. Protests, rallies, public meetings, legal challenges, and petitions are all means to that end, but winning is what will count in the end. And win we must and win we can.
The arrogance of Simmonds
The National Party-led coalition government picked a soft target when it went after us first. Simmonds realised that most of the existing disabled organisations were weakened by corporate boards, "engagement strategies," and woke ideology, which fragmented our community.
When Simmonds announced the March 18 funding restrictions, she didn't expect a response, as evidenced by her patronising, arrogant behaviour.
March 18 protests
There was an immediate outpouring of anger, and very small groups of individuals responded by organising some kind of local protest.
However, most did not think of using the opportunity to start building an organisation designed to fight the long battles ahead, with more attacks by the government predictable.
Invercargill example
Invercargill started with just three people who used the protests to build membership and a strong leadership committee capable of fighting the cuts yet to come. It took a lot of slow, patient work. DUNZ-Invercargill now has a robust and capable branch committee of seven experienced, proven leaders and a membership of 50, something to build on.
Failure of leadership
Very few of the existing "leaders of the disability community" were prepared to help with this. They prefer to "engage" and not risk their funding, even though their precious funding is disappearing.
Our community needs leaders with backbone.
What next?
In response to the latest attacks, small groups of disabled are looking for others to help with having protests in their hometowns and cities.
To do this, we need to recognise that our community is fragmented. Those who want to fight today are a minority. Most disabled people wish to hide and have someone else rescue them. However, we can change this mindset with a simple plan that builds self-confidence and trust in each other.
Building self-confidence
We can overcome our community's fragmentation by bringing people together to support campaign activities that will build the self-confidence of disabled people. Don't do it for them; they all need to do something to help. Leaders must prove themselves by what they do rather than lived experience or "identity".
Start small
It is better to start small, do well and grow. This is a marathon, not a sprint. Being too ambitious leads to disappointment and demoralisation.
Organise a protest
- Find another 2 people to help with the organisation of a local protest.
- If you are members of DUNZ and would like some help, contact DUNZ https://www.dunz.org.nz/p/office.html
- Pick a date and place for a simple street corner picket, signs and "toot for support". Make sure lots of other people can see the protest.
- Choose a contact person, phone and email so supporters can find you
- Tell everyone you know using Social Media
- Make some simple posters to put up in shops and the local library
- Plan to meet somewhere right after the protest.
- Hold the protest.
- Take good publicity photos and write a simple report.
- Hold the after-match meeting to decide what to do next. This includes finding more volunteers to help. Feel awesome because you are :)
- Share the photos madly on Social Media.
- Then round 2 ...
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